BANGALORE: The Assembly on Wednesday passed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Bill, 2009, which makes rainwater harvesting compulsory in the Bangalore city limits. Introducing the bill, Minister for Information, IT-BT and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board Katta Subramanyam Naidu said that in view of the rising demand for water and depletion of the groundwater table, rainwater harvesting has become very important in the city.

The owner or occupier has to provide for the rainwater harvesting structure within nine months from the date of passage of this bill.

The bill made it compulsory for all buildings, including government and commercial buildings with an area of not less than 1200 square feet to have the harvesting structure, failing which the BWSSB will create the facility and recover the cost as arrears of land revenue.

However, following demand from the Opposition, Naidu announced that rainwater harvesting would be made compulsory to all existing sites having a dimension of 60X40 ft and above.

But in case of new sites, the rule would be applicable to all, including those with a dimension of 30X40 ft.

Naidu said that a rain harvesting park would be set up at Jayanagar in six months to enlighten the public on the issue.

Besides demanding that the scheme be extended all over the state, Appaji Nadagouda (Congress) urged the minister to pay greater attention to setting up community rainwater harvesting sites in Bangalore.

Dinesh Gundurao (Congress) suggested the amendment be brought to the Karnataka Muncipality Act, extending the scheme to rest of the state.